Hamilton Kitchen adds to Allentown's tasty turnaround

Ryan Kneller

Federal Grill, Johnny Manana's, Made in Brazil and Sangria are just a few of the restaurants that have come and gone in downtown Allentown in recent years.

But with a minor league hockey arena, office buildings, shops and apartments in the works, many restaurateurs see a reversal of fortune ahead as hungry hockey fans, workers and new residents descend on the city.

Donny Petridis, co-founder of posh Valley eateries Blue and Melt, is one of these individuals. After six months of construction, he opened The Hamilton Kitchen & Bar Tuesday (for dinner only) on the first floor of Two City Center at 645 W. Hamilton St. It will be open for lunch and dinner beginning Monday.

The 150-seat restaurant is the first of what could be a dozen eateries — ranging from coffee shops and diners to sports bars and upscale restaurants — to occupy new downtown buildings.

Asked if he was excited to be a part of the city's turnaround, Petridis pointed to the nearly completed PPL Center arena across the street and quipped, "How can I not be?"

"I feel this will be the place to live, work and play in the Lehigh Valley," he added.

The menu features items "for all tastes and budgets" and will change at least twice a year, said Petridis, a resident of Lower Saucon Township.

Snacks, under $15, include common comfort foods such as mac and cheese, as well as more unusual offerings such as warm cheese curds and wild boar hand pie.

Flatbreads such as duck confit and pork sausage, as well as sandwiches such as the Reuben and Gulf shrimp po' boy tap out at $15 while main entrees, $12-$48, include New York strip steak, pan-roasted pork chop and seafood stew, among other items. House-made ice cream and other desserts are also available.

"My culinary philosophy is that food need not be overly complicated and recipes should feature only premium local ingredients in season," said executive chef Drew Stark, a veteran of restaurants in New York, Philadelphia and Boston.

A 25-seat bar features more than 100 whiskeys and a wide variety of cocktails, including the Older Old Fashioned and a tequila concoction called the El Scorcho. A large selection of beers and wines, displayed in a floor-to-ceiling storage area, is also available.

The Hamilton, which offers private rooms for parties of 10-70 people, will debut an outdoor bar and patio featuring live music in the next few weeks. Info: 610-433-3535 or thehamiltonkitchen.com.

While The Hamilton is the year's first high-profile restaurant to open in Allentown's arena area, it won't be the last.